Patents Examined by Rob Swiatek
  • Patent number: 9210914
    Abstract: A specialized conditioning protocol for honeybees that is designed for use within a complex agricultural ecosystem. This method ensures that the conditioned bees will be less likely to exhibit a conditioned response to uninfected plants, a false positive response that would render such a biological sensor unreliable for agricultural decision support. Also described is a superboosting training regime that allows training without the aid of expensive equipment and protocols for training in out in the field. Also described is a memory enhancing cocktail that aids in long term memory retention of a vapor signature. This allows the bees to be used in the field for longer durations and with fewer bees trained overall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
    Inventors: Kirsten J. McCabe, Robert M. Wingo, Timothy K. Haarmann, Andrew Sutherland, Walter D. Gubler
  • Patent number: 9211946
    Abstract: A wing fold system of a wing of an aircraft. The system may include a first lock of a latch to prevent movement of a latch pin of the latch to prevent movement of an unfixed portion of the wing with respect to a fixed portion of the wing, the first lock may include a first cam configured to prevent the second lock from transitioning to a second engaged position until the first lock may be in a first engaged position via contact with a second cam of the second lock. A second lock of the latch, the second lock may include the second cam configured to prevent the first lock from transitioning away from the first engaged position until the second lock transitions away from the second engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark Steven Good, Jan A. Kordel, Quentin Theodor Pietersen, Steven Paul Walker, Kelly Thomas Jones, Matthew August Lassen, Rickie Hansken
  • Patent number: 9199739
    Abstract: A passenger seat device, particularly an airplane passenger seat device, including a visible surface body having a receiving region, which is provided for receiving a replaceable information carrier, and a fastening unit for fastening the information carrier in the receiving region. The fastening unit is provided for uncovered fastening of the information carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: RECARO Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Satoshi Hasegawa, Patrick Barron Sesma
  • Patent number: 9198529
    Abstract: A protective covering assembly for use with outdoor flower pots is disclosed. The assembly includes a top portion conforming generally in shape with and slightly larger than the upper rim of a flower pot. The top portion includes a pocket or opening on the underside thereof into which a disk shaped support member is inserted. A skirt extends downward from the top portion and includes a vertical slit on one side. A closure mechanism is attached adjacent the slit that retains the slit in a closed position as desired. The top portion and skirt are constructed of waterproof fabric or marine grade vinyl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Inventor: Laura Jean Kramer
  • Patent number: 9199721
    Abstract: A flap for operatively coupling to a wing main element of an aircraft is provided. The flap comprises an outer flap section that has a side edge portion. The side edge portion at least partially surrounds a flap side-edge cavity. A porous cavity-filler insert is positioned in the flap side-edge cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Brian G. Cook, John Louis, Thomas Van de Van, Robert M. Vieito
  • Patent number: 9192149
    Abstract: A fish feeding device featuring an elongated shaft component with a first end portion formed into the shape of a helix for holding foodstuffs below the level of water in a fish tank and with a stopper component held by the shaft, keeping the shaft away from the inner walling of any panel portion of the tank and with the shaft component being bent about a vertically inclined central axis of symmetry of the shaft component for purposes of holding the invention about upper edging of the given panel portion and featured by further bends of the shaft component serving to hold the device fast in place about the exterior walling of and accordingly the panel portion of the fish tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Inventor: Douglas Scott Patac
  • Patent number: 9192141
    Abstract: An implement for keeping dairy animals, provided with a first and a second production unit and with a care unit having a plurality of subunits, wherein each production unit is provided with at least one accommodation area for a production group, which comprises a group of lactating dairy animals, and with a milking implement for milking the production group, wherein the subunits of the care unit at least include a calving unit for separately accommodating dairy animals in a calving period, and a milking implement for milking newly calved dairy animals, and an infirmary unit for separately accommodating sick animals, and wherein the care unit forms a connection between the production units. There is thus provided a compact disposition, comprising efficient and short distances, for dairy animals requiring care.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: LELY PATENT N.V.
    Inventor: Gerth Petersen
  • Patent number: 9185853
    Abstract: A double-walled nested plant pot assembly having a base pot and an insert pot, the latter removably inserted into the base pot. The base pot has a bottom and tapering sides, an open top, a drain hole in the bottom, and legs on the bottom for elevating the base pot above a surface. Clearance holes are provided for plumbing to be disposed under the base pot bottom. A pipe fitting is disposed in the drain hole for connection with a drain line. Stand offs are formed in the base pot for supporting the insert pot. The shape of the insert pot conforms to the base pot with slightly smaller dimensions and includes a basin portion with a plurality of drain slots. When placed on the stand offs, the spaces between the basin portion, the insert bottom, and the interior sides and bottom of the base pot provide a volume through which water may drain from the insert pot into the base pot and through the base pot drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: SENTINEL GLOBAL PRODUCT SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: R. Kurt Ascherman, Gregory J. Moore
  • Patent number: 9185898
    Abstract: An insect repellent device having a top section and a bottom section can be attached via a fastening mechanism near the facial area of a user. The top section and the bottom section are rotatably joined to form a single unit and an insect repellent compound is contained internally. A plurality of slits in each of the top section and the bottom section enable air to pass through the device and intermix with the insect repellent compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Inventor: Kyle McIntyre
  • Patent number: 9173380
    Abstract: An animal indicator apparatus that tracks the locations of an animal and alerts nearby persons when the animal approaches a boundary includes a location determining component operable to determine a current geographic location of the apparatus; memory for storing cartographic data representative of at least one boundary; an indicator and a processor. The processor triggers the indicator when the current geographic location of the apparatus is near the location of the boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Bradley C. Trenkle, Timmy R. Walker
  • Patent number: 9173381
    Abstract: A nectar feeder for birds. The nectar feeder has a container for storing nectar feed. A base tray is attached to the container and connected in fluid communication with the container. A float is positioned between the container and the base tray. A ball is positioned on the float. The ball regulates the fluid communication between the container and the base tray. In operation, the nectar feed flows through the container and into the base tray until the float rises to a level where the ball prevents fluid from flowing into the base tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Aspects, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry D. Colvin, David Guay, Rolf Richter
  • Patent number: 9173375
    Abstract: An animal feeder includes a funnel dispenser to control feed flow and dispersal. The funnel dispenser includes a main support collar to support the funnel dispenser and allow the funnel dispenser to freely rotate. The funnel dispenser includes a feeding tube and a funnel to channel feed into the feeding tube. The funnel extends into the feeding tube at least one third of the diameter of the feeding tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Schleichardt, Kristin Schleichardt
  • Patent number: 9174749
    Abstract: A propulsion module configured to launch a craft into space including a recoverable module and a non-recovered part, which is secured to the recoverable module at launch. The recoverable module includes a propulsive system to launch the craft, systems for command and control of the propulsive system, a subsonic flight propulsion motor, airfoils for the subsonic flight, a landing gear, and a braking parachute. The recoverable module is installed in a lower position of the craft when the craft is in the launch position. The non-recovered part includes at least one tank to feed the propulsive system. The recoverable module and the non-recovered part are configured to be separated when the propulsion module reaches a given altitude, and the recoverable module is capable of landing in a controlled fashion after a coasting flight, for example for a return to the launch site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: ASTRIUM SAS
    Inventors: Marco Prampolini, Olivier Gogdet
  • Patent number: 9169020
    Abstract: An aircraft passenger suite including one or more privacy walls arranged to define a seating area and a living area positioned to the side of the seating area, the seating area including a seat configured to achieve a horizontal bed position and the living area including at least one amenity for use by a passenger in the suite, the living area having a length substantially less than a length of the seating area such that the suite overlaps another suite in a longitudinal direction, and wherein an entrance to the suite is defined by a break in the one or more privacy walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Kroll, Suzuko Hisata, Francis X. Garing, Alexander Nicholas Pozzi, Glenn Allen Johnson, Robert J. Henshaw, JaeHun Gu, Benjamin D. Stephens
  • Patent number: 9167801
    Abstract: An insecticide impregnated strip configured for convenient and reliable attachment to conventional animal ear tags. The insecticide strip comprises an elongated integrally molded member having a key-hole shaped aperture formed in an upper portion thereof, enabling the elongated strip to be pendularly suspended from the ear tag. Various methods are disclosed for attaching the strip to different types of known ear tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Y-TEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joe D. Kellerby, Michael G. Fletcher
  • Patent number: 9167803
    Abstract: A farming device for benthic organisms, which is submerged in a water tank or a body of water, is constituted of a plurality of tray-form containers, which are the cultivating floor for benthic organisms such as bivalves, and are stacked in the vertical direction, with a central cavity passing through the stacked cultivating floors in the vertical direction and horizontal gaps defined between the cultivating floors, the cultivating floors communicating with the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Fujiyoshi
  • Patent number: 9161511
    Abstract: A milking system includes a rotary milking platform having a plurality of milking stalls and a plurality of milking devices, each milking device configured for attachment to the teats of a dairy livestock located in a corresponding milking stall of the rotary milking platform. The system further includes one or more robotic devices operable to perform one or more functions, including preparing the teats of a dairy livestock for the attachment of a milking apparatus, attaching a milking apparatus to the teats of a dairy livestock, and applying a sanitizing agent to the teats of a dairy livestock subsequent to the removal of a milking apparatus from the teats of the dairy livestock. Each of the one or more functions performed by the one or more robotic devices is performed during a period of time when the rotary milking platform is substantially stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: James F. McCain, Gary C. Steingraber, David A. Reid, Dennis E. Dynneson
  • Patent number: 9162751
    Abstract: An actuator is arranged to move an aircraft component such as a landing gear leg, flap or aileron between a first position and a second position, net load from external forces acting on the aircraft component tending to drive it towards the first position. The actuator comprises a threaded screw and a threaded nut. A main prime mover is configured to apply torque to the screw or nut acting in opposition to the net load under normal operating conditions. An emergency prime mover is configured to apply torque to the screw or nut acting in the same sense as the net load under emergency operating conditions in which the interface between the nut and the screw has become partially jammed to the extent that the component cannot be moved from the second position to the first position by operation of the net load alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Nicholas Elliott, Arnaud Didey, John W. Griffin
  • Patent number: 9161498
    Abstract: A greenhouse environment control system generates a CO2-enriched air which is supplied to a greenhouse at a controlled temperature suitable for plant growth. An absorption chiller reduces temperature of a CO2-containing stream of processed gasses from an engine. A mixing and blending unit maintains CO2 at an acceptable concentration for enhanced plant growth and human occupation. An HVAC system modulates temperature and positively pressurizes the greenhouse with the CO2-enriched air to reduce risk of contaminant intrusion. Misting further controls temperature. Retractable shades regulate light supplied to plants and solar gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Inventor: F. Mack Shelor
  • Patent number: 9161514
    Abstract: A feeder comprising: a base assembly and a rotatable housing, wherein the rotatable housing comprises: a pivotable portioning divider and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the pivotable portioning divider so that the pivotable portioning divider can be adjusted to vary an amount of food dispensed by the feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Automated Pet Care Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Brad Baxter